WALSH AT THE DOUBLE

Precision Nottinghamshire Senior League Cup Final

AWSWORTH VILLA FC 2 REAL UNITED FC 1

@ Dunkirk FC

Att: 201

A sunny afternoon greeted the two teams that had reached the Notts Senior League Cup Final and a crowd of 201 wasnt disappointed in a game that was very entertaining.

As the teamsheets went in to the referee, Real only had 11 players and 1 sub, but then a player hadnt arrived and the sub had to play, so Real only had a bare 11 players and things didnt start too well for them when after just over a minute, DANNY WALSH fired home from just 10 yards out to give Awsworth a early lead.

Awsworth pressed forward and Real defended well, but after 28 minutes, the Real keeper bought down a Villa forward and Danny Walsh stepped up and sent his penalty wide of the right hand post.

This seemed to spur Real on and after 31 minutes, JACK CHARLTON headed home to equaliser.

The game swung from end to end and could have gone either way and with 79 minutes gone, Awsworth saw a header bounce back off the crossbar. The next attack, saw DANNY WALSH fire home the winner.

Must mention Referee Ian Smith who had a excellent game in his last match, also the other 3 officials who did their jobs well.

We would like to thank everyone who purchased raffle tickets towards the blogs charity that raised a superb £109.

Photos from the game can be seen HERE

KIMBERLEY RETAIN JUNIOR LEAGUE CUP

Precision Nottinghamshire Senior League

Junior Cup Final

KIMBERLEY MINERS WELFARE RESERVES 3 SOUTH NORMANTON TOWN 1

@Ilkeston FC

Kimberley went in to the final as underdogs against a Normanton side that had won the Division One title by quite a large margin and had already done the league double over the Miners, but in Finals the formbook counts for nothing and this was the case on the evening.

The game should have been played on Tuesday evening at Basford United FC but after heavy rain all day, the pitch was flooded and with the league havin to ge the game played before the weekend, the hunt was on for a new venue and to the rescue came Ilkeston FC who were superb hosts on the Friday evening.

TThe match kicked off and though I didnt see much of the First Half to be fair, it looked quite a even affair, the second half I stood with Mr Mac Senior and old friend Malc Storer who I caught up with as Id not seen him this season. The game sprang in to life just after half time with a goal by DECLAN SMITH who put the Welfare in front.

As it got colder, everyone didnt want extra time, but with 7 minutes remaining tht what we got, when ADAM GILLIOTT hot the equaliser.

The game went in to extra time and Kimberley were awarded a free kick from some distance out, the ball seemed to deceive the Town defence and goalkeeper and SCOTT BAILEY's free kick nestled in the back of the net.

Normanton pushed forward but the Kimberley keeper was equal to anything thrown at him at this stage, whilst Kimberley broke on the break and a game worthy of winning any game was scored when SCOTT BAILEY pressed forward and kept going past 5 defenders to slot home.

We would like to thank everyone who donated to the charity raffle which raised £82 which will be added to next seasons blog

THANKYOU TO ALL DONATORS

THANKYOU TO ALL DONATORS

The 2015-16 season is near but over so I thought I would thank everyone who has helped support the two charities that the blog is to donate to this season

1. THE FOXTON CENTRE
2. INTEGRITAS

For many years, my wife Hazel did raffles at the Cup Finals that went to charities like the Air Ambulance,  Cystic Fibrosis, Marie Curie, Bluebell Hospice amongst others.

A few years ago, a friend Malcolm Storer and his friend Kev Goodman approached me as they knew that we went to a centre that aided parents who had children with special needs, as many of you know our son Shawn has autism and they raised over £800 from their blog.

As I liked taking photos at matches I attend and doing the odd write up, this encouraged me to do a blog and sponsor myself 25p each goal I saw scored through out the season, with a goal over £100, since then we have seen the Blog grow each season having raised money for the Cancer Department that I was treated at and also the eplipsy department, amongst others.

This season I wanted to help a small charity and a good friend Michael Osborne suggested Integritas, I had already chosen the Foxton Centre, but both charities were small, not funded by governement grants and both had very similar goals to aid people with mental issues, also ex military who had become homeless and people who needed help as they were vulnerable. This hit home to me, as I ran away from Birmingham when young and lived a while on the streets of Nottingham in the winter snow.

Ive known Mick(Michael) Osborne since around 1989 when he used to be the programme editor of Attenborough FC where the programme was of a golden yellow colour. His son was my best man at my wedding to Hazel. Mick at the time I  first met him worked till his retirement at Plessey in Beeston and when he step down from Attenborough FC, he began to groundhop with his son Greg, who on the odd days would give me a lift to matches, one day remembered is to Yate Town and the famous christmas tree we passed six times with my poor directions.

Mick kindly said he would also sponsor a goal this season for my blogs 2 charities and he kept to his word, raising a great amount of £77.40p to take the total up to £1,390.70p, which wife Hazel has said she will top up to £1,400, so each charity will get £700 each.

Next seasons Charity Blog will be for the 10th Mansfield Scouts Group to whicb Shawn goes to, they have helped him come along and make new friends and he has been working towards badges, the Scout Group meet in a area of Mansfield where there are quite a few under privileged families, so support for the group is very important to enhence childrens activities, as the group does require new equipment..Mick & Greg have both begun the fund off for next season with a £10 each donation and the raffle money from the Notts Senior League Senior Cup & Junior Cup Finals will also be added to the total for the new blog which I will set up very soon.

Mick has been so kind to send me a email hence below:

After volunteering with Notts Healthcare Trust for 10 years since I retired, I was invited to join a newly formed Charity, Integritas as a Trustee and Board Member in 2012 two years. Their aim is to help, in the widest possible terms vulnerable people with complex problems to live a better life. 

We act like a best friend to them and a bridge over troubled waters. Helping people has been a big aim in my life since I retired, so it was ideal. Not satisfied with being a Trustee. I immediately joined the workers and was out visiting clients. This was quite difficult seeing the mental illness and poverty that is around us in the city. I did this for about two years and decided to take a back seat. Since then I have raised funds, done office work and written applications for grants. Integritas like most charities is always short of money to keep providing a good service and we are currently going through a money crisis. 

Another big part of my life has been ground hopping all over the country with my son Greg for many years. We have had a great time and made many good friends one of them Rob Hornby. He has also been raising money for various charities over a few years now, which is marvellous. I hoped that one yea he would be kind enough to let Integritas and its clients be one of his charities. This season 2015-2016 we were chosen to share with another charity. I started with the formula that I would put 20p in the tin for every goal that I and Greg saw this season. We see 2 games a week and often Greg sees another. It has raised £77 and I would ask other ground hoppers to do this for next seasons Charity Mansfield Scouts. I will put £10 as a start for them. However next season my donations will go to the Charity closest to my heart Integritas.  The money which Rob will donate to Integritas now known as Improving Lives will go towards helping the older people with our Befriending Service.

Without all donators kind help, we would never have reached such a massive amount and Id like to thank everyone one of you and your clubs.

PRECISION NOTTS SENIOR LEAGUE JUNIOR CUP FINAL UPDATE

Precision Nottinghamshire Senior League Junior Cup Final Update

After the postponement of the Precision Nottinghamshire Senior League Junior Cup Final between South Normanton Town FC and Kimberley Miners Welfare Reserves at Basford United FC on Tuesday 10th May 2016, a new date and venue has been set for the match.

The Cup Final will now take place at The New Manor Ground, the home of Ilkeston FC on Friday 13th May 2016 with a 7.45pm kick off

Admission will be £3 for Adults, £1 for Concessions and kids

Programme £1

Address for Ground

Awsworth Road

Ilkeston

Derbyshire

DE7 8JF

NINE MEN PARK FRUSTRATE BILTHORPES TITLE DREAMS

Precision Nottinghamshire Senior League

Division Two

ASPLEY PARK RESERVES 2 BILSTHORPE RESERVES 2

Lookng for a match where something was to play for, lead me to Harvey Hadden Stadium in Bilborough, where the situation before play was Keyworth United Reserves had finished their fixtures and a win for Bilsthorpe Reserves would have given them the title, whilst any slip up and if Awsworth Villa Reserves won their fixture then they would spring two places in to top position and clinch the title.

The game began at a even pace on a pitch full of yellow flowers, which look good on the photos, but the pitch looked good to play football on. After 15 minutes, a challenge in the home penalty area saw the forward go down and  the ref award Bilsthorpe a penalty and he produced a red card to Dion Johnson, up stepped Bilsthorpes Captain STUART GRAINGER to put his side in to a lead, within 5 minutes, Aspley Park were on level terms when they were awarded a penalty of their own to which JAMES OWEN duly dispatched.

Bilsthorpe pushed forward but they were denied on several occassions by the young home keeper, whilst they had chances of their own. After 32 minutes, JACK WARMAN latched on to a long ball and lopped it over the oncoming keeper to put the visitors in to a 2-1 lead. Aspley Park from the kick off went straight back on the attack and were level within seconds when SEAN HOLMES tapped home from close range.

Just on the stroke of half time, Aspley Park broke the offside trap and Pat Hume stretched and caught the away keeper who threw thee ball directly at the home player, the ref produced a yellow card for the keeper and a red card to the Aspley player which incensed the home bench.

The half time whistle blew and both sets of players were upset and frustrated at the referee who I felt was having a good match, but i.t was going to be a uphill struggle for the nine men of Aspley Park for the second half.

Messages were coming throgh from Awsworth that their match was 1-1 and at this stage of the day, the title was heading to Keyworth and Bilsthorpe must have known it wasnt to be their day when 3 minutes from time, they saw the ball bounce off the crossbar, whilst a score flash had come through to say that Awsworth had won 3-1. The final whilstle went and all players and officials shook hands.

Photos from the Aspley Park Res v Bilsthorpe Match can bee seen HERE 

From the car park here, it was a dash along the A610 to Awsworth to see League Fixture Secretary Chris Cliff present the Division Two Championship to Awsworth Villa Reserves

Here are the Photos of the presentation HERE

GRAY DAY FOR SANDHURST FC

Precision Nottinghamshire Senior League

Premier Division

SANDHURST FC 1 COTGRAVE FC 8

This Friday Night fixture saw Sandhurst FC who was rooted to the bottom of the table host 2nd from bottom Cotgrave FC. the visitors knowing that only a win would take them out of the relegation places for the season.

As we pulled in to the car park, we was met by local hoppers Sean and Hannah who presented me with a crate of fosters, Hazel with a lovely bouquet of flowers and Shawn a box of Jelly Babies and we then headed in to the ground and got the programmes off the lovely Nat. Soon arrived and not seen this season was good friend Rob Waite closely followed by ex football league ref Steve Cooke.

Referee Lee Clarke was facing his first middle in the NSL and I must admit had a great game, before kick off he handed me both line up's so a big thankyou to him.

The game began and it was Cotgrave who pushed forward with the home keeper in great form, but after 15 minutes he could do nothing about a 30 yard shot from ADAM GRAY who gave Cotgrave the lead, Sandhurst werent to lay down as in the next minute, they were level when WILLIAM COX hit a half volley to equal the scores.

Cotgrave pushed forward but Griffiths was in inspired form in the Sandhurst net keeping the scores level until ADAM SINNOTT put the visitors in front.Sandhurst could well have gone in at half time level but after 41 minutes, William Cox skyed his penalty in to someones garden, Cotgrave took advantage of this and on the stroke of half time ADAM GRAY made it 3-1.

On 51 minutes a cross from the Cotgrave right was headed in to his own net by ADAM BRADFORD to make it 4-1, by now a few of the Sandhurst heads began to drop and 5 minutes later DOUGIE MILLS made it 5-1 to the visitors.

Sandhurst were very poor and not getting out of their half, whilst the visitors missed chance after chance and it came as no surprise after 73 minutes, they increased their lead through LUKE BUCK to make it 6-1.

After 86 minutes ADAM GRAY completed his hat trick and gainned man of the match and with the last kick of the game from a corner on the left, GAZ TYE put it past his own keeper to make it 8-1

PHOTOS FROM THE GAME CAN BE SEEN ON THIS LINK

REVIEW OF LAST NSL HOP 2016?

Precision Nottinghamshire Senior League Groundhop 2016

End of a era, Hoppers asked me, Is this really the last one Rob? Maybe but never say never I always reply. Maybe every couple of years have a reunion day hop including the new clubs that enter the Notts Senior League, maybe a January Hop using the clubs that play on 4g pitches, it maybe worth chancing as there are more and more 4/5g pitches now and the weather is usually not too good in January, but at east none of them games would be off.

Its the morning after the weekend and how do I feel, well I thought all 10 clubs involved respected themselves and league in a excellent light, they all made a few quid and gainned a lot of friends along the way and put themselves on the footballing map, not only in the Nottinghamshire area but all over the UK and also to our hopper from Sweden.

All the clubs did their best and were polite, caring and had time for the hoppers and Ive received email after email and facebook messages galore that only have favourable things to say.

I must thank all the hoppers who have become good friends over the years for supporting not only me, but of course who does a lot of hard work usually behind the scenes and also Shawn of course, I think most of you laughed at his joke when he eventually got hold of the microphone on the coach.

I must thank all the clubs and hoppers and officials who donated to the blogs charity through donations, raffles or buying at the stall as we raised a amaziing £451, a massive thankyou to you all.

The matches were different with a great game on the Friday Night where Attenborough beat Awsworth Villa 5-1 in front of 218 people. The Saturday morning saw a early start with a 0-0 draw in front of a crowd of 291 between Beeston v Underwood Villa, we then travelled to Bilborough United where 239 people saw a early goal for Bilborough United to take the points against Ashland Rovers, on we went to Nottinghamshire FC where visiting club Gedling Southbank supplied the boy and girl balls for the game and boosted the crowd to 301 where the visitors took the points home after a 3-0 victory, a lot of tired legs were then beginning to show and we headed to Real United v Unity, where sadly the jerk chicken man didnt turn up, the pie warmer didnt work, so all the pies had to be microwaved, so it put them behind on things, but on the pitch inbetwween a heavy shower and a nice rainbow, the players played their part in a evenly matched 1-1 draw.

I have also had a lot of comments about all 15 match officials saying how good they were, not one bad comment about the whole hop, so am I pleased the way it went, if it is my last one as organiser then the answer would be yes, but remember..never say never.